Apparatus and method for handling pipe

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for moving pipe between pipe storage racks and a pipe handler on a pipe deck of a drilling rig. The apparatus is capable of retrieving pipe from tiered stacks of pipe in a pipe rack located behind Samson posts, and moving the pipe up and over the Samson posts onto a pipe stand or pipe handler.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/229,630 filed Jul. 29, 2009 and hereby incorporates the sameprovisional application by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is related to the field of oil well operations,in particular, pipe-handling apparatuses used to move pipe up and overSamson posts between pipe racks and pipe-handling devices used to movepipe to and from a drilling rig floor.

BACKGROUND

On drilling rigs, in particular, offshore Jack-Up drilling rigs, drillpipe can be stored in tiered pipe stacks or racks behind stanchionsknown as “Samson posts” on the cantilever pipe deck. On typical offshorerigs, cranes are utilized to lift singles or bundles of pipe from thepipe racks to a catwalk on a pipe handler or up to the drill floor. Thisprocess requires people to work in and around these suspended loads tohook up bundles of pipe. This is a hazardous job where workers are proneto injury.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide an apparatus for moving pipe froma pipe rack up and over the Samson post that is safe, controlled andefficient, and one that is remotely controlled, does not require cranesand does not require a person to touch the pipe as it is being moved.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, an apparatus is provided for moving pipe from apipe rack located behind the Samson posts to a pipe handler so that thepipe can be delivered up to the drill floor of drilling rig, or to anyother location on the rig. The apparatus can comprise of a carriageslidably disposed on a substantially vertical support beam wherein thecarriage can move up and down on the beam. The carriage can furthercomprise a rotatable arm disposed thereon, the arm further comprising atine configured to pick up and carry pipe. The tine can move to pick uppipe from any position in the pipe rack by rotating the arm and movingthe carriage vertically on the beam. The apparatus can be mounted on thepipe deck beside the Samson posts, or it can be mounted on the pipehandler, that can skid from the pipe rack to a position on the pipe deckthat aligns with the well bore.

The arm can comprise a mechanically geared tine that can remainhorizontal through the arm's 360 degree rotation about a horizontalaxis. By separately driving and controlling the arm's rotation and thecarriage's vertical position, a pipe can be picked up and lifted overthe Samson post to the other side and then lowered onto a receivingrack. The arm can be sufficiently long that it can pick up pipe from thesame height as the mounting base of the vertical support beam and yetlift the pipe clear over the top of the Samson post when the carriage islifted to its highest position on the beam. The motors used for liftingthe carriage or rotating the arm can be adapted or configured forautomated or semi-automated control, which can allow for programmeddevice sequences and indexing positions for different pipe diameters andtier heights in the pipe rack. When combined with programmable logiccontroller (“PLC”) control, precise, repeatable and predictable movementcan be achieved in the movement of the pipe and, thus, can achieve asafer work place for personnel. The movement of pipe from the pipe rackto a pipe handler can be achieved entirely mechanically and withoutpersonnel having to touch the pipe, and can, thus, greatly increase thesafety of moving pipe on the drilling rig.

Broadly stated, in some embodiments, an apparatus for raising pipe froma pipe rack up and over a Samson post to a pipe handler located on apipe deck of a drilling rig, the apparatus comprising: a substantiallyvertical beam configured to be positioned adjacent the Samson post; acarriage disposed on the vertical beam, the carriage configured to moveup and down the vertical beam; a lift drive assembly configured to movethe carriage up and down the vertical beam; an arm rotatably disposed onthe carriage, the arm further comprising a tine configured to pick upand carry pipe; and an arm drive assembly configured to rotate the arm.

Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a method is provided for raisingpipe from a pipe rack up and over a Samson post to a pipe handlerlocated on a pipe deck of a drilling rig, the method comprising thesteps of: providing an apparatus comprising: a substantially verticalbeam configured to be positioned adjacent the Samson post on the pipedeck, a carriage disposed on the vertical beam, the carriage configuredto move up and down the vertical beam, a lift drive assembly configuredto move the carriage up and down the vertical beam, an arm rotatablydisposed on the carriage, the arm further comprising a tine configuredto pick up and carry pipe, and an arm drive assembly configured torotate the arm; rotating the arm and moving the carriage on the verticalbeam wherein the tine engages and lifts the pipe; and moving thecarriage up on the vertical beam and rotating the arm wherein the pipeis carried over the top of the Samson post.

Broadly stated, in some embodiments, a pipe handler is provided for useon a pipe deck on a drilling rig, the pipe handler configured for movingpipe from a pipe rack located behind Samson posts disposed on the pipedeck to a drilling rig floor, the improvement comprising an apparatusfor raising pipe from the pipe rack up and over the Samson post to thepipe handler, the apparatus comprising: a substantially vertical beamconfigured to be disposed on the pipe handler and adjacent to the Samsonpost when pipe is moved between the pipe rack and the pipe handler; acarriage disposed on the vertical beam, the carriage configured to moveup and down the vertical beam; a lift drive assembly configured to movethe carriage up and down the vertical beam; an arm rotatably disposed onthe carriage, the arm further comprising a tine configured to pick upand carry pipe; and an arm drive assembly configured to rotate the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting one embodiment of a pipe-handlingapparatus moving a section of pipe from a pipe rack over a “Samson” postonto a pipe stand.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus ofFIG. 1 removing a section of pipe from a pipe rack.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus ofFIG. 2 moving the section of pipe over a Samson post.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus ofFIG. 2 depositing the section of pipe onto a pipe stand.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus ofFIG. 2 removing a section of pipe from the top tier on a pipe rack.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus ofFIG. 2 removing a section of pipe from the bottom tier on a pipe rack.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view depicting the pipe-handling apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view depicting the pipe-handling apparatusof FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view depicting the pipe-handling apparatus of FIG.7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view depicting a pipe-handling device locatedon a Jack-up drilling rig adjacent to a pipe rack removing a section ofpipe from the pipe rack using the pipe-handling apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling device ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view depicting the pipe-handling device of FIG.10 skidded over on the drilling rig to present the section of pipe tothe drilling rig floor.

FIG. 13 is a close-up perspective view depicting an alternate embodimentof the pipe-handling apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 moving a section ofpipe from a pipe rack onto a pipe-handling device.

FIG. 14 is an end elevation view depicting the pipe-handling apparatusof FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a wide-angle perspective view depicting the pipe-handlingapparatus of FIG. 13 shown on the left-hand side of the pipe deck of adrilling rig.

FIG. 16 is a wide-angle perspective view depicting the pipe-handlingapparatus of FIG. 15 shown skidded over to the right-hand side of thepipe deck of the drilling rig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In a broad aspect, a pipe-handling apparatus is provided for moving pipebetween a pipe storage rack and a pipe-handling device that moves pipeto and from the drill floor of a drilling rig. For the purposes of thisspecification, the term “pipe” is understood to include tubular pipe,drill pipe, casing, drill collars and other pipe, as known to thoseskilled in the art, used in the drilling of wells and the production ofsubstances from said wells. In some embodiments, the apparatus canretrieve pipe from tiered stacks located behind the Samson posts wherebythe apparatus can load pipe onto a carrier tine, raise the pipevertically with respect to the Samson post and swing the pipe over thetop of the Samson post where the pipe can be placed on a pipe stand tobe loaded onto a pipe-handling device, or directly onto thepipe-handling device. For the purpose of this specification, the terms“Samson post elevator” and “Samson lift” are understood to represent theapparatus described herein and, in particular, apparatus 10 as shown inFIG. 1. In operation, one or more sections of pipe can be loaded ontothe pipe-handling device using the Samson post elevator, wherebymultiple sections of pipe can be lifted simultaneously up to the drillfloor. From this position the pipe can be dispensed from thepipe-handling device to a presentation position and deliver the pipe tothe drilling rig floor.

In the reverse, the pipe handler is able to accept and retrieve pipeindividually from the drilling rig floor, and store multiple pipe in asingle layer across the pipe-handling device, then lower them down tothe cantilever deck level where they can be delivered to a pipe racklocated behind the Samson posts. Samson post elevators can then beutilized to return the pipe to a tiered stack formation behind theposts. In some embodiments, the Samson post elevators can also form partof the overall pipe-handling device.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of apparatus 10 is shown. In thisfigure, a plurality of sections of pipe 14 can be placed in pipe rack22. The first layer of pipe 14 can rest on bottom tier spacer 18 toelevate pipe 14 off of deck beams 21 that form deck 20. Spacers 16 canbe used to separate subsequent layers of pipe 14 within pipe rack 22.One or apparatuses 10 can be used move pipe 14 over Samson posts 12 andrest them on pipe stand 24. Apparatus 10 can comprise arm 26 rotatablyattached to apparatus 10 at one end, the other end of arm 26 comprisingtine 28, which can be configured to pick a section of pipe 14 fromstorage rack 22 and carry it up and over Samson posts 12. In someembodiments, tine 28 can comprise an L-shaped configuration, asillustrated in FIG. 3, although it is obvious to those skilled in theart that other physical configurations or shapes suitable for pickingand holding a section of pipe 14 can be used to form tine 28. As anexample, the tine can comprise a shallow-V configuration, as illustratedas tine 102 in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, apparatus 10 is shown picking, liftingand placing a section of pipe 14 onto pipe stand 24. In FIG. 2,apparatus 10 is shown picking pipe 14 a by rotating arm 26 and tine 28underneath said pipe to lift it upwards. In FIG. 3, apparatus 10 isshown lifting pipe 14 a by moving upwards on guide beam 30, which issecured to deck 20 via base plate 32, and rotating arm 26 clockwise toswing pipe 14 a over the top of Samson post 12 a. In FIG. 4, pipe 14 ais shown lowered onto pipe stand 24, which can be accomplished byapparatus 10 moving downward on guide beam 30 and rotating arm 26 to anapproximate 3 o'clock position, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, apparatus 10 is shown picking a pipe 14 fromthe top tier and bottom tier of pipe rack 22, respectively. In someembodiments, the ability of apparatus 10 to move up and down on guidebeam 30, and to rotate arm 26 can allow apparatus 10 to pick a sectionof pipe from any tier in pipe rack 22.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, one embodiment of apparatus 10 isillustrated. In some embodiments, apparatus 10 can comprise asubstantially vertical guide beam 30 disposed on base plate 32. Thisconfiguration can permit apparatus 10 to be affixed to the deck floor ofa drilling rig adjacent to a Samson post or to a pipe-handling devicethat can skid across the deck floor. In some embodiments, apparatus 10can comprise lift drive assembly 42, that can further comprise liftdrive gear motor 44 operatively coupled to lift drive reducer 46. Liftdrive assembly 42 can be disposed on the upper end of frame member 50that can also be disposed on base plate 32, adjacent to guide beam 30.Lift drive assembly 42 can further comprise shaft 60 operatively coupledto lift drive reducer 46 to provide motive power to a continuous loopdrive mechanism comprising of a belt and pulleys. Pulley 62 can bedisposed on shaft 60 to turn belt 52. At a lower end of apparatus 10,belt 52 can rotate around pulley 63, which can freewheel on belttensioner 74 operatively coupled to apparatus 10 to maintain tension inbelt 52.

In some embodiments, apparatus 10 can further comprise arm driveassembly 34 that can be configured to move up and down guide beam 30.Arm drive assembly 34 can comprise carriage 48 disposed around guidebeam 30. Carriage lift bar 56 can be operatively attached to belt 52with means for attaching carriage lift bar 56 thereto. In theillustrated embodiment, the attaching means can comprise clamp plate 54clamped to belt 52, wherein carriage lift bar 56 is operatively attachedto carriage 48 with pins 58. Once carriage lift bar 56 is clamped tobelt 52 with clamp plate 54, carriage 48 can move up or down guide beam30 as lift drive assembly 42 operates. It is obvious to those skilled inthe art that if belt 52 is replaced with a chain, for example, theattaching means can comprise one or more pins, or other functionallyequivalent means, to attach lift bar 56 to the chain.

In some embodiments, arm drive assembly 34 can comprise arm drive motor36 operatively coupled to arm drive reducer 38 that, in turn, can rotateshaft 64 operatively coupled to torque coupler 66 and pulley 72. Arm 26can comprise arm housing 68 that encloses tine shaft 65 and pulley 73affixed to tine shaft 65. Tine 28 can be operatively coupled to tineshaft 65. Belt 70 can wrap around pulleys 72 and 73 inside of armhousing 68. As shaft 64 turns, the rotational torque can be applied toarm housing 68 via torque coupler 66 whereby arm 26 can rotate clockwiseor counter clockwise depending on the direction of the rotation of shaft64. As arm 26 rotates, the physical relationship of belt 70 and pulleys72 and 73 to operate as a synchronizing loop mechanism and cause tineshaft 65 to rotate as arm 26 rotates. Pulley 72 can be configured toremain stationary as arm 26 rotates. This can cause belt 70 to rotatepulley 73 and tine shaft 65, wherein tine 28 can maintain a relativelyfixed position relative to apparatus 10 as arm 26 rotates.

While the illustrated embodiment uses belts and pulleys, it is obviousto those skilled in the art that belts 52 and 70, and pulleys 62, 63, 72and 73, can be replaced with functional equivalents. These equivalentscan comprise chains and sprockets, cables and pulleys, intermeshinggears, rack and pinion gears or any combinations thereof. It is alsoobvious to those skilled in the art that motors 36 and 44 can beelectric motors of any applicable variant, such as AC fixed frequencymotors, AC variable frequency motors, DC motors, stepper motors or anyother functionally equivalent motor including, but not limited to,hydraulic motors or pneumatic motors. In some embodiments, one or moreof arm drive reducer 38 and lift drive reducer 46 can comprise atransmission to reduce or step down the rotation speed of motors 36 and44, respectively. Reducers 38 and 46 can comprise worm gear mechanisms,planetary gear mechanisms, intermeshing gear mechanisms, ring and piniongear mechanisms, any combinations thereof or any other functionallyequivalent mechanisms as known to those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the control and operation of apparatus 10 canfurther comprise operational controls (not shown) that can permit themanual operation of one or more apparatuses 10 in tandem to move pipe 14in and out pipe rack 22. If motors 36 and 44 comprise electric motors,then the controls can comprise an electrical control panel to controlthe operation of the motors as known to those skilled in the art. Ifmotors 36 and 44 comprise hydraulic or pneumatic motors, then thecontrols can comprise hydraulic or pneumatic control systems as known tothose skilled in the art. In some embodiments, apparatus 10 can furthercomprise at least one automated control mechanism (not shown), such asgeneral purpose computers, programmable logic controllers,microprocessors, microcontrollers, hydraulic fluid control systems,pneumatic control systems or other functionally equivalents systems asknown to those skilled in the art to monitor, control and operate one ormore apparatuses 10, singly or in tandem, manually or as part of anautomated system.

In some embodiments, apparatus 10 can comprise one or more positionsensors operatively connected to a control system, as known to thoseskilled in the art (not shown), the sensors disposed on apparatus 10 tomonitor the position and movement of arm 26 or carriage 48 for use inthe control and operation of apparatus 10. Suitable examples can includerotary encoders disposed on shafts 60, 64 or 65 that can be monitored bya control system, or disposed within one or more of motors 36 and 44.Other examples can include one or more of electro-optical and magneticcomponents, as known to those skilled in the art, operatively connectedto a control system.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, one embodiment of apparatus 10 isshown as part of a larger system to move pipe 14 from pipe rack 22 todrilling rig floor 78 comprising well bore 80 and mouse hole 82. In thisconfiguration, the system can comprise pipe handler 84 situated on deckbeams 21 of pipe deck 20. Pipe handler 84 can comprise lower frame 88having skidding system 86 engaging deck beams 21. A plurality ofapparatuses 10 can be used to move pipe 14 from pipe rack 22 up and overSamson posts 12 onto kicker/indexer 96 disposed on pipe handler deck 90.It is obvious to those skilled in the art that at least two apparatuses10 would be used on each side of pipe handler 84 in order to easilybalance and carry a pipe although a single apparatus 10 could be usednear the middle of pipe handler 84 and lift and balance a section ofpipe provided that suitable changes are made to tine 28 to enable it tocarry a pipe, such as increasing the width of tine 28 and including anupper portion or jaw that can clamp the pipe once resting on tine 28.

Once a plurality of pipes 14 is positioned on kicker/indexer 96 byapparatus 10, pipe handler 84 can be skidded across pipe deck 20 to apredetermined position for presenting pipe 14 to drilling rig floor 78,as shown in FIG. 12. In some embodiments, pipe handler 84 can be carriedon skidding system 86 that can move under power in the fore and aftdirections as well as side to side so as to position pipe handler 84relative to Samson posts 12, as well as move to a position in line withwell bore 80 for delivering pipe 14 between pipe handler deck 90 anddrilling rig floor 78 without the use of a crane.

Once pipe handler 84 is in position, pipe handler deck 90 can beelevated to a starting position. Pipe 14 can then be placed in trough 92by kicker/indexer 96 so that trough 92 can be further raised andelevated so as to present pipe 14 to drilling rig floor 78. Skate 94 canbe used to push pipe 14 up along trough 92 towards drilling rig floor78. When tripping pipe 14 out of well bore 80, the above mentionedprocedure can be reversed to remove pipe 14 from drilling rig floor 78to be returned to pipe rack 22. In this illustrated embodiment,apparatuses 10 can be operatively disposed on pipe handler 84.

In other embodiments, such as one illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16, theSamson post elevator, shown as apparatus 100 in these figures, can beoperatively disposed on Samson posts 12. In some embodiments, Samsonposts 12 can comprise I-beams or boxed beams whereby apparatus 100 canbe configured to move up and down these types of beams.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, pipe handler 84 is shown positionedbeside pipe rack 22. Apparatuses 100 disposed on Samson posts 12 canmove pipe 14 from pipe rack 22 to pipe handler deck 90. Once loaded withpipe 14, pipe handler 84 can skid along pipe deck 20 by skidding system86 to align with well bore 80 on drilling rig floor 78, as shown in FIG.16.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications might be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specificationhave been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, andthere is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions ofexcluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portionsthereof, it being recognized that the invention is defined and limitedonly by the claims that follow.

1. An apparatus for raising pipe from a pipe rack up and over a Samsonpost to a pipe handler located on a pipe deck of a drilling rig, theapparatus comprising: a) a substantially vertical beam configured to bepositioned adjacent the Samson post on the pipe deck; b) a carriagedisposed on the vertical beam, the carriage configured to move up anddown the vertical beam; c) a lift drive assembly configured to move thecarriage up and down the vertical beam; d) an arm rotatably disposed onthe carriage, the arm further comprising a tine configured to pick upand carry pipe; and e) an arm drive assembly configured to rotate thearm.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the carriage isslidably disposed on the vertical beam.
 3. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the carriage further comprises rollers configured totravel in roller guide channels disposed on the vertical beam.
 4. Theapparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liftdrive assembly comprises a continuous loop drive mechanism.
 5. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the continuous loop drivemechanism comprises one or more of the group consisting of belts andpulleys, chains and sprockets, cables and pulleys, rack and piniongears, and intermeshing gears.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4or in claim 5, further comprising a tensioner for tensioning thecontinuous loop drive mechanism.
 7. The apparatus as set forth in anyone of claims 4 to 6, wherein the carriage further comprises means forattaching to the carriage to the continuous loop drive mechanism.
 8. Theapparatus as set forth in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the liftdrive assembly further comprises a first motor having a first driveshaft for driving the continuous loop drive mechanism.
 9. The apparatusas set forth in claim 8, wherein the first motor comprises one or moreof the group consisting of AC fixed frequency electric motors, ACvariable frequency electric motors, DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulicmotors and pneumatic motors.
 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8or claim 9, further comprising a first transmission for reducing therotational shaft speed of the first drive shaft, the first transmissionoperatively coupling the first motor to the continuous loop drivemechanism.
 11. The apparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 10,wherein the arm drive assembly further comprises a second motor having asecond drive shaft for rotating the arm.
 12. The apparatus as set forthin claim 11, wherein the second motor comprises one or more of the groupconsisting of AC fixed frequency electric motors, AC variable frequencyelectric motors, DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulic motors andpneumatic motors.
 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 or in claim12, further comprising a second transmission for reducing the rotationalshaft speed of the second drive shaft, the second transmissionoperatively coupling the second motor to the arm.
 14. The apparatus asset forth in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the arm furthercomprises: a) a housing having first and second ends, the first endoperatively coupled to the second drive shaft; b) a tine shaft rotatablydisposed in the second end of the housing, the tine operatively coupledto the tine shaft; and c) a synchronizing loop mechanism operativelycoupling the tine shaft to the second draft shaft wherein the tineremains in a fixed position relative to the apparatus as the armrotates.
 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein thesynchronizing loop mechanism comprises one or more of the groupconsisting of belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets, cables andpulleys, rack and pinion gears, and intermeshing gears.
 16. Theapparatus as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprisinga control system, the control system comprising one or more of the groupconsisting of general purpose computers, programmable logic controllers,microprocessors, microcontrollers, hydraulic fluid control systems andpneumatic control systems for monitoring, controlling or operating oneor both of the lift drive assembly and the arm drive assembly.
 17. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 16, further comprising one or moreposition sensors operatively connected to the control system formonitoring the position and movement of one or both of the lift driveassembly and the arm drive assembly.
 18. A method for raising pipe froma pipe rack up and over a Samson post to a pipe handler located on apipe deck of a drilling rig, the method comprising the steps of: a)providing an apparatus comprising: i) a substantially vertical beamconfigured to be positioned adjacent the Samson post on the pipe deck,ii) a carriage disposed on the vertical beam, the carriage configured tomove up and down the vertical beam, iii) a lift drive assemblyconfigured to move the carriage up and down the vertical beam, iv) anarm rotatably disposed on the carriage, the arm further comprising atine configured to pick up and carry pipe, and v) an arm drive assemblyconfigured to rotate the arm; b) rotating the arm and moving thecarriage on the vertical beam wherein the tine engages and lifts thepipe; and c) moving the carriage up on the vertical beam and rotatingthe arm wherein the pipe is carried over the top of the Samson post. 19.The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the carriage is slidablydisposed on the vertical beam.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 19,wherein the carriage further comprises rollers configured to travel inroller guide channels disposed on the vertical beam.
 21. The method asset forth in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the lift drive assemblycomprises a continuous loop drive mechanism.
 22. The method as set forthin claim 21, wherein the continuous loop drive mechanism comprises oneor more of the group consisting of belts and pulleys, chains andsprockets, cables and pulleys, rack and pinion gears, and intermeshinggears.
 23. The method as set forth in claim 21 or in claim 22, furthercomprising a tensioner for tensioning the continuous loop drivemechanism.
 24. The method as set forth in any one of claims 21 to 23,wherein the carriage further comprises means for attaching to thecarriage to the continuous loop drive mechanism.
 25. The method as setforth in any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the lift drive assemblyfurther comprises a first motor having a first drive shaft for drivingthe continuous loop drive mechanism.
 26. The method as set forth inclaim 25, wherein the first motor comprises one or more of the groupconsisting of AC fixed frequency electric motors, AC variable frequencyelectric motors, DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulic motors andpneumatic motors.
 27. The method as set forth in claim 25 or in claim26, further comprising a first transmission for reducing the rotationalshaft speed of the first drive shaft, the first transmission operativelycoupling the first motor to the continuous loop drive mechanism.
 28. Themethod as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the arm driveassembly further comprises a second motor having a second drive shaftfor rotating the arm.
 29. The method as set forth in claim 28, whereinthe second motor comprises one or more of the group consisting of ACfixed frequency electric motors, AC variable frequency electric motors,DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulic motors and pneumatic motors. 30.The method as set forth in claim 28 or in claim 29, further comprising asecond transmission for reducing the rotational shaft speed of thesecond drive shaft, the second transmission operatively coupling thesecond motor to the arm.
 31. The method as set forth in any one ofclaims 28 to 30, wherein the arm further comprises: a) a housing havingfirst and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the seconddrive shaft; b) a tine shaft rotatably disposed in the second end of thehousing, the tine operatively coupled to the tine shaft; and c) asynchronizing loop mechanism operatively coupling the tine shaft to thesecond draft shaft wherein the tine remains in a fixed position relativeto the apparatus as the arm rotates.
 32. The method as set forth inclaim 31, wherein the synchronizing loop mechanism comprises one or moreof the group consisting of belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets,cables and pulleys, rack and pinion gears, and intermeshing gears. 33.The method as set forth in any one of claims 18 to 32, furthercomprising a control system, the control system comprising one or moreof the group consisting of general purpose computers, programmable logiccontrollers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, hydraulic fluid controlsystems and pneumatic control systems for monitoring, controlling oroperating one or both of the lift drive assembly and the arm driveassembly.
 34. The method as set forth in claim 33, further comprisingone or more position sensors operatively connected to the control systemfor monitoring the position and movement of one or both of the liftdrive assembly and the arm drive assembly.
 35. An improved pipe handlerfor use on a pipe deck on a drilling rig, the pipe handler configuredfor moving pipe from a pipe rack located behind Samson posts disposed onthe pipe deck to a drilling rig floor, the improvement comprising atleast one apparatus disposed on the pipe handler, the apparatusconfigured for raising pipe from the pipe rack up and over the Samsonpost to the pipe handler, the apparatus comprising: a) a substantiallyvertical beam configured to be disposed on the pipe handler and adjacentto the Samson post when pipe is moved between the pipe rack and the pipehandler; b) a carriage disposed on the vertical beam, the carriageconfigured to move up and down the vertical beam; c) a lift driveassembly configured to move the carriage up and down the vertical beam;d) an arm rotatably disposed on the carriage, the arm further comprisinga tine configured to pick up and carry pipe; and e) an arm driveassembly configured to rotate the arm.
 36. The pipe handler as set forthin claim 35, wherein the carriage is slidably disposed on the verticalbeam.
 37. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 36, wherein thecarriage further comprises rollers configured to travel in roller guidechannels disposed on the vertical beam.
 38. The pipe handler as setforth in any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the lift drive assemblycomprises a continuous loop drive mechanism.
 39. The pipe handler as setforth in claim 38, wherein the continuous loop drive mechanism comprisesone or more of the group consisting of belts and pulleys, chains andsprockets, cables and pulleys, rack and pinion gears, and intermeshinggears.
 40. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 38 or in claim 39,further comprising a tensioner for tensioning the continuous loop drivemechanism.
 41. The pipe handler as set forth in any one of claims 38 to40, wherein the carriage further comprises means for attaching to thecarriage to the continuous loop drive mechanism.
 42. The pipe handler asset forth in any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein the lift drive assemblyfurther comprises a first motor having a first drive shaft for drivingthe continuous loop drive mechanism.
 43. The pipe handler as set forthin claim 42, wherein the first motor comprises one or more of the groupconsisting of AC fixed frequency electric motors, AC variable frequencyelectric motors, DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulic motors andpneumatic motors.
 44. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 42 or inclaim 43, further comprising a first transmission for reducing therotational shaft speed of the first drive shaft, the first transmissionoperatively coupling the first motor to the continuous loop drivemechanism.
 45. The pipe handler as set forth in any one of claims 35 to44, wherein the arm drive assembly further comprises a second motorhaving a second drive shaft for rotating the arm.
 46. The pipe handleras set forth in claim 45, wherein the second motor comprises one or moreof the group consisting of AC fixed frequency electric motors, ACvariable frequency electric motors, DC motors, stepper motors, hydraulicmotors and pneumatic motors.
 47. The pipe handler as set forth in claim45 or in claim 46, further comprising a second transmission for reducingthe rotational shaft speed of the second drive shaft, the secondtransmission operatively coupling the second motor to the arm.
 48. Thepipe handler as set forth in any one of claims 45 to 47, wherein the armfurther comprises: a) a housing having first and second ends, the firstend operatively coupled to the second drive shaft; b) a tine shaftrotatably disposed in the second end of the housing, the tineoperatively coupled to the tine shaft; and c) a synchronizing loopmechanism operatively coupling the tine shaft to the second draft shaftwherein the tine remains in a fixed position relative to the apparatusas the arm rotates.
 49. The pipe handler as set forth in claim 48,wherein the synchronizing loop mechanism comprises one or more of thegroup consisting of belts and pulleys, chains and sprockets, cables andpulleys, rack and pinion gears, and intermeshing gears.
 50. The pipehandler as set forth in any one of claims 35 to 49, further comprising acontrol system, the control system comprising one or more of the groupconsisting of general purpose computers, programmable logic controllers,microprocessors, microcontrollers, hydraulic fluid control systems andpneumatic control systems for monitoring, controlling or operating oneor both of the lift drive assembly and the arm drive assembly.
 51. Thepipe handler as set forth in claim 50, further comprising one or moreposition sensors operatively connected to the control system formonitoring the position and movement of one or both of the lift driveassembly and the arm drive assembly.